established the French Republic, which, but for us, I verily believe, would never have been settled by such a volatile changeable people." —ii., 117.

He relates in 1796, that the Dey of Algiers would not make peace with the Genoese and Neapolitans, "for," said his Highness's envoy, "if we make peace with every one, what is the Dey to do with his ships?" On which Nelson exclaims, "What a reason for carrying on a naval

war! But has our minister a better one

for the present?"—(ii., 236.) Nor was he slow in perceiving the absurdity of subsidies, for, he said, poor England will be drained of her riches to maintain her allies,

66

who will not fight for themselves."(i., 492.) And again, "I very much believe that England, who commenced the war with all Europe for her allies, will finish it by having nearly all Europe for her enemies."-(ii., 171.) This prediction was never fulfilled, whatever the learned editor may think to the contrary; but no doubt the time came when nearly all Europe was against England and England triumphed; the war did not, however, finish at that period.

It was on the plea of maintaining one of those allies "who would not fight for him

self," that Nelson rendered himself guilty of crimes unparalleled for their baseness, for their cruelty, and for their consequences. It is to have the sentence passed on him by

the unanimous consent of the civilized world, reversed, that the editor of his Letters has entered into an elaborate examination of all the facts of the case, and all the documents bearing on it, which he, with some justice, prides himself in having collected; we undertake to show, from those very documents and very little else, that the conduct of Nelson was even worse than has been hitherto supposed, and that in attempting to defend him, the learned editor has put it out of doubt, that Nelson was

still more criminal than has been previously

believed.

Lady Nelson and of his friends in England, as we find from a letter of Davison(vol. iii. p. 138)-who expressed his regret

that Nelson should continue in the Mediterranean. But it was too late. The his

tory of Lady Hamilton is well known. Remarkably handsome, attractive, and artful, from the lowest station in which she was born, and of which she preserved, to a great degree, the manners and language to her last days, she had been taken from walking the streets of London, and had passed through, no one knows how many hands, to those of Sir W. Hamilton, English minister at Naples, who made her his wife. But her previous life was in the way of her being received either at Court, or by the Neapolitan aristocracy, until the power she had acquired over Lord Nelson, even before the battle of the Nile, was taken advantage of by the Queen of Naples for her political views, and Lady Hamilton be came not only a favorite, but an indecently familiar companion, and, if the word were not profaned, when speaking of such Soon after the battle of the Nile, the King of wretches, the friend of the Queen. Naples, unquestionably urged to it by Nelson, had the imprudence to attack the French in the Roman States. His Majesty had possessed himself, and in three weeks was soon driven out of Rome, of which he he bravely ran away from Naples to Sicily, Nelson, leaving his continental dominions on board the Vanguard, commanded by to make the best terms they could with the French, who soon became masters of the kingdom, and organized it as a Republic.

The whole of those dominions were lost to

the king; there was not a soldier nor a banner of his left; and a king who betrays his people and runs away from them, when they press him to stay at his post, as the Neapolitans did,* absolves them, most undoubtedly, from an allegiance which is only the counterpart of protection. Francesco (the Archimedes), which escorted the king, Caracciolo commanded a Neapolitan frigate

and went with him to Sicily, whence his sovereign allowed him to return to Naples, the republican government having threat

It is only necessary to premise that, on his return from the battle of the Nile, Nelson gave way to the passion which was kindled before for Lady Hamilton. In De- *The king ran away on the 20th of December, cember, 1798, it had reached the ears of 1798. It was only on the 22d of January that the French entered Naples. Sir W. Hoste, who witThe editor makes the following note-nessed the triumphal return of the king of Naples "This remarkable prediction was not, however, completely fulfilled, until after Nelson's death." The war against Napoleon and France did not end after Nelson's death till 1814, when all Europe was with England.

VOL. VIII.-No. I.

43

to his continental dominions, wrote to his mother in June, 1802:-" It must appear truly ridiculous to every one to see the honors of a triumph given to a man who, in the hour of danger, had basely deserted them."-Memoirs and Letters, i. 180.

ened to confiscate his property. "But though one of its most distinguished leadneither the king nor he himself ought to have imagined that, in such times, a man of such reputation would be permitted to remain inactive.' But no more of this at present.

ers was known by the soubriquet of FRA DIAVOLO.* It was this army that, by the assistance of the English, succeeded in conquering the kingdom of Naples for its king, after the French had been obliged to withdraw from it.

The populace in the mountains, excited by the priesthood, and led by them, and by The government which had been formed villains who had escaped from the gallows in the king's absence, had retired, towards for the most horrid crimes,† had taken up the end of the republic, into the Castelnuarms for the king. Among those who had ovo and Castel del' Ovo, the French under followed the king to Palermo, was Fabrizio the command of a scoundrel of the name Ruffo, a cardinal, of the noble and most of Mejean, having possession of Castel loyal house of Castelcicala. He landed Sant' Elmo, the only one, in fact, which thence at Bagnara, one of the feudal pos- can be well defended, particularly when sessions of his family, where he put himself the other two are in friendly hands. We at the head of all the refuse of society who now come to the most important part of chose to follow him-for it was only the these transactions, into which it is necessalower classes-those who had nothing to ry to enter minutely, to understand all the lose who were on the side of the Cardi- otherwise incredible infamy of Nelson's nal, who, in the name of religion and loy-conduct. alty, led them to plunder and murder with the cross and the royal cockade on their hats, and usurping the name of "Army of the Faith," and of " Christian Army,"

SOUTHEY'S Life of Nelson, chap. 6.

We are informedt that on the 10th of June, 1799, Ferdinand, King of Naples, hearing that the populace were in his favor in the capital, determined to send his eldest son and a body of troops of the line to assist his partisans in recovering it.

* "Ruffo's army consisted of a motley tribe of Calabrese royalists, galley slaves, and criminals from the gaols, and banditti, from the south to the north of the kingdom."-CLARKE & M'ARTHUR,

The cruelties, murders, and wholesale slaughters committed by the monsters here alluded to, are so very revolting, that our readers would be "This measure, however,” says a letter of disgusted were we to attempt to record any. the king to Nelson, "without your valuable Nothing in the history of the most barbarous na-assistance and direction, cannot produce the tions can be found surpassing, and seldom any necessary result. I have recourse, therefore, to thing equalling, the conduct of the allies of Lord you, my Lord, to obtain both the one and the Nelson. Their assassinations, not discouraged by the admiral and his friends, pass uncondemned and smiled at by the apologists of Lord Nelson. The following is a case of simple murder, one of the mildest by far of those days, which will give an idea of the times and of the men. Nelson writes to Lord St. Vincent as follows:-"Ourii. 256. friend Troubridge had a present made him the "Captain Troubridge has given a portion of other day of the head of a Jacobin, and makes an that spirit he so eminently possesses to all who apology to me, the weather being too hot, for not communicate with him. The Great Devil [he sending it." The head was sent by the assassin meant Fra Diacolo] who commands a portion of to Troubridge, with what is simply called "a cu- the Christian army, has been on board the Cullorious letter," dated Salerno, 26th April, 1799, of den," &c.-Dispatches of LORD NELSON, iii. 340. the following tenor:-"Sir, as a faithful subject Observe here an assassin receiving his inspirations of my king Ferdinand IV., whom God preserve, I from an English captain in the navy-an assassin have the glory of presenting to your Excellen-nicknamed the Devil, commanding a "Christian cy the head of D. Charles Granozio di Giffoni, army,"-and all this in joke! This villain [Fra who was employed in the administration directed Diavolo] the editor of Nelson's Dispatches, calls by the infamous commissary Ferdinand Ruggi."a Calabrese, who distinguished himself in the The said Granozio was killed by me as he was royal cau-e," (iii. 340.) running away. I beg your Excellency would accept the said head." (NELSON's Dispatches, vol. iii. 348) Now his Excellency did accept of the head. He laughed at the deed, and wrote on the letter, "A jolly fellow," and talked jocularly of sending it on to his superior and friend for his

amusement.

"At Naples all the lower orders are loyal and attached to their sovereigns, and, indeed, so they are in the provinces; for this war presents the very extraordinary circumstance of the rich taking the road for the destruction of property, and the poor protecting it.”—Vol. iii. p. 324.

We quote the letter, but we believe it apocryphal; we may allow, because it is of no consequence, that such a letter may have at the time been written, but we say that the king of Naples was incapable of writing it, both mentally and materially that is, he neither could express himself in such terms, nor could he write so long a letter with his own hand. He may have signed it, but we repeat it again, supposing it is what the editor believes it to be-a holograph-it is of no consequence; it is at the utmost a private letter, not a solemn kingly act and document. See it at length, iii. 491.

1846.]

DISPATCHES AND LETTERS OF LORD NELSON.

be

almost

other, so that (if God will bless your efforts powers of Nelson were to be, on that parand ours), this kingdom being speedily deliv- ticular emergency, there was an end of ered from the scourge it has experienced, it them by the expedition being given up, the may henceforward be in a condition to perform Prince landing, and the fleet going on anthe engagements contracted, which duty and other service. reason prescribe. I send, therefore, a copy of This was in consequence of a letter of the instructions I give to the superior Generals, and which I forward to those on the Con- the 6th of June, which Nelson received on tinent. At the head of these I have placed the 13th of the same month from Lord my son, whom I trust to your friendly assist- Keith, informing him that the French ance, so that his first steps in his present criti fleet (consisting of at least twenty-five sail cal career, which he will have to run, may of the line),* might go towards Nelson guided by your wise advice, requesting you with a wind favorable to the enemy, whilst not only to help him with your powerful aid, but that you will always* act principally, as he, Keith, could not follow them. Nelson your forces are the true means and support on had no choice but to land the Prince, the and go to which I rest my future hopes, as they have troops, the ammunition, &c., hitherto been my safety.... The powerful meet the French off Marittimo, though with and distinguished fleet with which will you a very inferior force, "not fit to face the "alsupport the expedition, leads me to flatter myenemy," as he says; and then adds, self with that happy result which will especially depend upon it. When therefore though as I am, I cannot think myself justiyou shall judge necessary to employ ac-fied in exposing the world (I may tual and powerful force," &c. (iii. 492.) say) to be plundered by those miscreants." (iii. 380.) He left, during this absence, Now, although this letter is written, as Captain Foote of the Sea-horse, to continthe editor says, "shortly before he (Nelson) ue at the head of a small squadron of Ensailed for Naples," (p. 491,) it is not fair-glish ships, to assist, together with the Rusand the mistake is highly reprehensible-sian and Turkish forces, Cardinal Ruffo to connect the letter with the entrance into to retake from the republicans the castles the Bay of Naples, on the 24th of June. into which they had withdrawn.† After the Crown-Prince had embarked on observes :the 13th of June, the fleet was obliged to change its destination, and instead of going to Naples it went after the French fleet, so that the Prince was landed in Sicily on the 14th, and the expedition to Naples was given up. The letter of the king was not an official document-had it been so, it was only saying what was well known, that the king neither had had, nor had, nor could have, any hope but in the English fleet; without it he neither could ferry his troops across from Sicily, nor expect to succeed; but it never can be twisted to mean that the command-in-chief of the expedition was conferred on Nelson by it. Far from it, the king sends him a copy of the instructions given to the superior generals: He does not give any to Nelson; nor does he direct the Neapolitan generals to put themselves under the Admiral's orders. It is absurd to argue such points: but as the editor draws most unwarrantable inferences from utterly groundless assumptions, we beg to notice them. Whatever, moreover, the

*There is no always in the original Italian.

Foote

"It was my duty to consider that the getting possession of Castel Nuovo, and dell' Ovo, would very much expedite the reduction of Fort St. Elmo, which commands the town of Naples, and was wholly garrisoned by French troops. Besides, from all the intelligence received, I had much more reason to expect the French than the British fleet in the Bay of Naples. . . The two great objects were, to restore his Sicilian Majesty to his dominions, and to drive the French out of Italy. Considering that, in the then situation of affairs, it was of great consequence to get possession of the Castles, and still more to prevent the least appearance of disunion [among the allies], I determined not to throw any obstacle in the way of obtaining the two great objects to which I have before alluded."

Ruffo was well aware that the appearance of a superior French fleet in the Bay of Naples would have been the destruction of the royalists; and he knew also that the banditti and cut-throats whom he led were more likely to plunder their friends than

* Letter to Lord Keith, of June 27th, 1799. (iii. 391.)

This is admitted by Sir H. Nicolas, (p. 492,) + The command of the ships in the Bay of Nawho corrects the mistake he had fallen into, by ples, had devolved on Foote on the 17th of May. trusting to the twin biographers of Nelson, Clarke-Vindication, p. 108 and M'Arthur, who blundered on this, as they do on most other important occasions.

CAPTAIN FOOTE's Vindication of his Conduct, page 24-26, 2d edit. 1810.

more

fight their enemies.* Foote, foreseeing This is what Lord Nelson meant when what might happen if the “Christian army" he spoke of the business being done" entered Naples, wrote to Nelson on the 5th of June, requesting that some regular troops should be sent,t

efficaciously" by the royalists, though not with "the good order" of regular troops. Encouraged by the approbation of Lord tel a Mare, granted a capitulation to the Nelson, Captain Foote, after attacking Casgarrison, the substance of which was, that the whole of the garrisons and crews of the flotilla should lay down their arms. The republicans asked, moreover, that it should be left

"to prevent the anarchy that must take place if the royalists, of themselves, get possession of Naples: an event by no means to be desired, as there is no saying what pillage and disorder would ensue; as few, if any, of these armed people receive any regular pay; and, consequently, are obliged to subsist by rapine and plunder, which, I fear, has given the country people but too much reason to complain of" to their option to go where they think proptheir conduct. With all submission to the bet-er; and, relying on British generosity, they ter judgment of my superiors, I beg leave to trust you (Captain Foote) will receive such of recommend the offering a free pardon, be- them on board your ship as think proper to cause, when throwing the dice for kingdoms, avail themselves of the protection of the Britpersonal animosities, jealousies, and every ish flag." trifling object, should be disregarded."‡

These humane and eminently politic sentiments, met with the entire approbation of Lord Nelson, so far as their political part went; for as to the prevention of pillage and plunder, he did not feel much concern. His answer, dated June 8th, is as follows:

These terms were granted by Foote.* To the garrison, both of Castel a Mare, and of Ravigliano, he had previously proposed to receive them as prisoners of war, with a promise, on his word of honor, "to intercede with his Sicilian Majesty in their behalf." These terms were accepted by the garrison of Ravigliano. That of Castel a Mare wanted to leave the fortress with military honors, be released on their word

"I agree in all the sentiments you express in your letters relative to the affairs of Naples; a few regular troops would do the busi-of honor, allowed to go home, "and their ness in better order, but not more efficaciously than the royalists."§

These words imply an approbation of Foote's sentiments as to the free pardon (the italics are Foote's) which he suggests; à circumstance which deserves particular notice. The "efficaciousness" of the royalists in doing the business when they entered Naples, was shown to Nelson's heart's content. What Mr. Fox said in his place in the House of Commons, on the 3d of February, 1800, was true, without the slightest exaggeration :

safety guaranteed in the name of the Kings of Great Britain and Sicily."+ As Foote gave no answer to that proposal, the other was made, which, we have seen, was eventually consented to. Neither the garrison of Ravigliano, nor that of Castel a Mare, was promised that their members might either be safely sent to France, or be allowed to remain at Naples unmolested, nor were their lives and property guaranteed.‡ They were simply allowed, as far as Foote was concerned, to go where they liked; the utmost he had bound himself to do was "to intercede in their behalf," which on their "Not only the miserable victims of the rage the king's mercy, but had no right, in strict part meant, that they threw themselves on and brutality of the fanatics were savagely murdered, but in many instances their flesh justice, to claim exemption from abiding was eaten and devoured by the cannibals who the consequence of whatever criminal proseare the advocates and the instruments of thecution the royal government might institute social order."|| against them.§

Nelson knew it as well. See his letter to Troubridge, April 25, 1799.-iii. 333.

This determined the sending of the Prince Royal, who was, however, obliged to put back to Sicily, as we have seen.

Vindication, page 124. § Vindication, page 126.

"Durante l'assedio dei castelli, il popolo Napolitano unito agl' insorgenti, commise delle barbarie che fan fremere; incrudeli fin anco contro le donne; alzò nelle pubbliche piazze dei

roghi, ove si cuocevano le membra degl' infelici, parte gittati vivi, e parte moribondi."-SAGGIO Stor. Sulla Rivoluz. di Napoli, 2d edit. Mil. 1810. It is written by Cuoco, an eye-witness.

*

Vindication, p. 158. † Vindication p. 155-157. All this was especially and solemnly granted to the Castel Nuovo, and Castel dell' Uovo, by Foote, and treacherously refused by Nelson, as we shall see. Here we only wish to point out the difference of the terms.

§ Foote did intercede for them, and his inter

Foote had every reason to think that the may decide your own way; for we are under granting capitulations on humane and gen-no kind of engagement."

There is a letter

erous terms would be approved of by the Neapolitan government. These letters help us to appreciate Nelof Sir John Acton to Sir William Hamil-son's conduct on his arrival in the Bay of ton, dated the 20th of June, 1799, and pub-Naples. They prove incontrovertibly: 1st, lished at length in the Nelson Dispatches that the Neapolitan government wished the (iii., 391,) whilst Foote (p. 139) had published only a portion of it-in which we find that the Republicans were charged with having broken a truce

"granted at their desire for the capitulation of the Castles [dell'] Uovo, Nuovo, and of St. Elmo. These last, however, seem willing to hear of terms, but the Republicans are making continual sorties from the Castles, and S. Martino. The Cardinal seems in a disagree

castles to capitulate: 2d, that so far from the King of Naples having invested Lord Nelson with the supreme command, or with extraordinary powers as his representative, he merely accepted the unasked-for assistance offered by the English admiral to support with his fleet the intimation for surrender to be made to the Castles-a support the more welcome, and a capitulation the more desirable, as the Cardinal was in a able position. His Majesty, on this circum- disagreeable position : 3d, that Lord Nelstance especially, accepts of the kind offer of son was under no kind of engagement, and Lord Nelson, to present himself before Na- was at liberty to go to the Bay of Naples to ples, and procure the intimation for surrender- give the proffered assistance or not, as he ing, to be supported by the English fleet. Its liked best: 4th, that the Neapolitan Govappearance, and the certainty of the French ernment, when doubting whether Captain being distant, would certainly produce the Foote had granted to the rebel officers perdesired effect. I hurry this answer, my dear mission to go home, had not expressed the sir, for the expedition of Lord Nelson. . I return to you Captain Foote's letter, of which slightest objection to the grant, either on I have taken copy. I do not know whether the score of justice and expediency, or on he has granted the demands of the rebel offi- that of want of power in Foote for granting cers to go free to their families. His intima- such terms. And, on the most unfavorable tion was for surrendering prisoners of war. If supposition to the patriots, that they had Captain Foote has kept to his declaration, surrendered as prisoners of war, Acton then these prisoners might come to Sicily, when they shall be ordered to Africa,* till fur-wrote that they would be sent to Ustica ther orders."

Sir W. Hamilton, on forwarding this letter to Lord Nelson, wrote to him

"The offer your Lordship made in your letterf was to take place when you had a certainty of the French fleet being disposed of somehow; and General Acton has had your letter to me, and I have not seen him, so you

cession was successful. His humane and generous efforts are used by the editor of the Dispatches to attack his honesty-"Why did not Captain Foote make a similar exertion in favor of the garrisons of [Castel dell'] Uovo, and Nuovo?”—(iii. 519.) Why? because these had a RIGHT to go freely to France, and to be left unmolested, according to the capitulation; whilst the garrisons of Ravigliano and Castel a Mare had no such right, but had only trusted to the intercession of Foote-who had promised it, and kept his word-for mercy. How can the editor say that the terms granted to the latter were very similar to those granted to the former ?

*So in the Nelson Dispatches; but in Foote it is Ustica, a Sicilian fortress, not Africa, that is mentioned.

This letter has not been found, probably beCause Acton, to whom it was forwarded, never returned it.

"till further orders," which orders could not be supposed to be to put them to death at leisure, such not being the treatment which is reserved for persons who are received as prisoners of war.

On the 16th of June, 1797, Nelson sailed from Sicily in search of the French fleet.* For very good reasons, which we need not repeat, he returned to Palermo, and on the 21st landed there for a couple of hours, saw the King, the Queen, and General Acton, and, having taken on board Sir William and Lady Hamilton, he sailed for the Bay of Naples, where he anchored about nine o'clock on the evening of the 24th. In that bay he wrote what he called, "Opinion delivered before I saw the treaty of armistice, &c., only from reports at sea."+ And

* It was then that he wrote to Lady Hamilton the letter, printed among the Dispatches as if it were written June 16 h, 1800, in which he speaks of being "from her house to a hog-stye of a cabin." In 1800, on the 16 h of June, Lady Hamilton and the Queen of Naples were with Nelson at Leghorn. See vol. iv. p. 252 and 253.

These important words are added in the copy in the State Paper Office in Nelson's own hand. It is curious that the copyist should have omitted